SHANTI MARIA FONSECA
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” – Ralph Waldo Em erson. Several prominent figures throughout history have been recognised for their ability to practice deep contemplation. Men and women who intro spect, cultivate philosophical and scientific thinking have re shaped our understanding in science, religion, art and human rights. Gautama Buddha aban doned a life of royalty and luxu ry to contemplate the causes of human suffering and ultimately developed a new philosophical and spiritual path through a life of asceticism and meditation. Confucius, a Chinese philos opher, shaped the East Asian culture with his deep contem plation on social harmony and morality. Socrates was known for his focus on pursuit of wis dom through critical self-ex amination, famously stating that “an unexamined life is not worth living” and that “the only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing”. Mahatma Gan dhi developed the philosophy of Satyagraha through deep reflection on justice, truth and spiritual discipline. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in pris on, where he used the time for profound introspection and study, transforming from a rev olutionary to a symbol of recon ciliation. The Ignatian (St. Ignatius of Loyola) tradition lays stress on being a “contemplative in Ac tion”, to find God in all things – in work, in family, and even in the midst of a busy life. Contempla tion is about living more intent ly which allows for a “river like” life which embraces change rather than like a swamp whose waters stagnate. Sri Aurobindo believed that human beings have the potential to evolve to higher states of consciousness, transcending limitations and realising their inherent divine nature. Aurobindo envisioned a soci ety founded on the principles of spiritual evolution, where every individual recognises their in ner divinity and works towards the collective well-being. More than two-thousand years ago, St Paul affirmed our lack of self-awareness and self-control when he wrote, “What I want to do, I don’t do. And what I don’t want to do I find myself doing (Romans 7:15 ff TIB). The evolution of the human family depends on the evolu tion of the human conscious ness. And everyone else in the human family is called to be a member. Finding your own contemplative path is a deeply personal journey. Silence teach es us who we are. It’s no secret that our world and lives we lead can feel chaotic. Quieting the mental chatter helps us access deeper wisdom and intuition. Contemplation is the intention al practice of inner and outer stillness, cultivating presence, mindfulness, and a deeper con nection to God or one’s inner self. It involves slowing down to observe thoughts as passing clouds rather than reacting to them, which reduces mental noise, lowers stress, and in creases self- awareness. This investment in one’s self yields significant dividends. What we plant in the soil of contempla tion, we shall reap in the har vest of action. To sit in silence with God is like sitting with a lover or friend. Words do not always need to be uttered. We just en joy the company of each other. Silence is the medium to discov er who we are. We learn how to be. We learn how to behave in the presence of God. Through silence, we learn to embrace and rest in the arms of God at this time. Solitude is an interi or posture of longing for God. Stillness is an interior posture of waiting for God. And silence is an interior posture of listen ing to God. The discipline of stillness can help you develop an awareness of God’s presence and action in your life. Solitude is spending time alone with God. This “TRINITY” of stillness, solitude and silence act as the inner temple, allowing one to move from noise, to “rest” and into a, deeper awareness of the divine presence. These practices are rooted in the “life” of Jesus, who often withdrew to ‘solitary’ places to “pray”. This “three-fold” ap proach helps individuals find peace, healing, and renewal. The human condition is muddled, mysterious, and yet marvellous. We are complex human beings created in the image of God – daughters and sons of the Most High. This is an extraordinary and unique identity. But though we have Divine DNA, we often don’t re flect and give testimony to this heritage. The Christian doctrine of the Divine indwelling affirms God’s immanence. We believe that God dwells in our soul. Therefore we don’t have to go to any place to find God or be with God. More often we need to stop running and be still and silent to recognise God’s pres ence with us. Being rooted and connected to God’s immanence illuminates and transforms our identity and liberates us to be seamlessly connected to God, who is also around us. In today’s fast paced world, we often rush through life with out taking a moment to pause and reflect. Contemplation is a simple yet powerful tool that allows us to slow-down, con nect with our thoughts and ex plore the deeper aspects of our being. If you sit with God long enough, in deep solitude, deep stillness and deep silence, you will find Him. Outside of God, you will never know your true self. Salvation is a journey of becoming the real you. Just as the body benefits from move ment, our mind benefits from stillness. The answers we seek never come when the mind is busy; they come when our mind is still. Inner stillness is the key to outer strength. Con templation helps individuals to navigate the complexities of life. Sometimes described as a pause; a way of being with oneself, others and the divine. Unlike goal-oriented tasks, con templation is a “journey with out a goal”. It is an end in itself. Contemplation is a challenging retreat from the frantic pace of the world to gain a deeper un derstanding. Contemplation the most ancient and fully forgotten of all the creative arts is about directly interfacing with crea tion. We often find our identity in being busy, in being much sought after. But Jesus modelled a different way. He resisted the temptation to be indispensable and prioritised time alone with His father. “Martha Martha you are worried and distracted by many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better path”. The point is we are distracted by many things. Mary decided this was “the mo ment” to listen and leave the daily chores aside. MARY MADE TIME TO LISTEN. Take time to quiten down. Take time to talk to God and the Universe. Listen and be gentle with yourself. The key to transformation is con templation. Contemplation can be seen as the highest form of intellectual and spiritual life – a “spiritual wonder and awe” at the sacredness of existence. A way to “know “Beyond “know ing”. Contemplation (Dhyana) is central to clearing the mind of attachment, ego and ignorance to reach a state of inner peace and liberation. In the words of Thomas Aquinas “It is necessary for the perfection of human society that there should be men and women who devote their lives to contemplation”. In today’s fast paced world, we often rush through life without taking a moment to pause and reflect before acting. Contemplation is a simple yet powerful practice that allows us to slow down, connect with our thoughts and explore the deeper aspects of our being. (The writer is a social scientist and a Sr. practicing criminal lawyer)
